Fin-tastic Fun Awaits During AquaVenture’s Summer of Sharks Celebrating the UAE’s Native Species

Nour Aboras -

Aquaventure World is hosting the Summer of Sharks event from Friday, 12th of July to Monday, 12th of August. The Lost Chambers Aquarium will be transformed into an exciting world for shark enthusiasts, offering a range of entertaining and educational experiences. The event will feature two new marine programs: Ray Feeding and Freediving Explorer, allowing guests to get up close with amazing marine animals.

The goal of the Summer of Sharks is to raise awareness about these fascinating species and encourage guests to support marine conservation initiatives. For every marine animal experience that a guest participates in, Atlantis Dubai donates 1 USD to local and international conservation and sustainability projects annually! The 2024-25 recipients of support from Atlantis Atlas Project's 1 USD program will be announced later this summer.

NEW MARINE PROGRAMMES

NEW Ray Feeding – This experience is unmissable! Get ready to join Atlantis Dubai's experienced team of aquarists and hand-feed the diverse collection of stingrays at the Shark Lagoon in Aquaventure Waterpark. You can stand in waist-deep water as the graceful rays swim up for food during this educational and interactive program. The new Ray Feeding experience can be booked from Friday, 12th July, and will remain available beyond the exciting event.

  • Age: 6 years and above and a minimum height of 1.2 meters (children aged 6 to 13 years must be accompanied by an adult)
  • Timings: Daily at 1:00 pm, 2:00 pm and 3:00 pm
  • Prices: From AED 480 for children | AED 530 for adults including an educational briefing, FREE same-day access to Aquaventure Waterpark, and discounted same-day admission rates to The Lost Chambers Aquarium. Guests should bring their own swimwear.

Ray Feeding experience can be booked at the Aquaventure Ticketing Plaza or by calling 04 426 0000.

NEW Freediving Explorer – The new Freediving Explorer program allows certified freedivers to explore the underwater world of the Ambassador Lagoon, which is the UAE’s largest open-air aquarium. Under the supervision of the Atlantis dive team, guests can practice free diving skills, capture content, and enjoy swimming alongside 65,000 marine animals. The program will launch on Saturday, 20th July, and will stay available after the Summer of Sharks event.

  • Participants must have a current freediving certification from a reputable organization, including but not limited to PADI Freediver.
  • Age: 12 years and above
  • Timings: Saturday and Sunday, 7:00 am and 8:00 am
  • Prices: From AED 795 including an educational briefing, use of freediving equipment, 60 minutes spent in water, towels, and water, and FREE same-day access to The Lost Chambers Aquarium. Guests should bring their own swimwear (wetsuits are provided and required).

Freediving Explorer can be booked at the Aquaventure Ticketing Plaza or by calling +971 4 426 00 00.

COMPLIMENTARY “SUMMER OF SHARKS” ACTIVITIES

During the Summer of Sharks, visitors to The Lost Chambers Aquarium can enjoy a variety of complimentary in-aquarium activities every day from Friday, July 12th to Monday, August 12th. These activities include a Shark Discovery Trail, where guests can explore the aquarium to find answers to trivia questions and get a chance to win a shark-themed weekend stay at Atlantis, The Palm. Additionally, there will be Shark Education Stations, where Atlantis marine educators will share interesting facts; Shark-themed Face Painting and Arts and Crafts sessions, a Shark and Ray Nursery Feed and Expert Talk, JAWESOME Shark Bingo, a Shark-Themed Aquatheatre Show with Atlantis scuba divers, and Shark Trivia to test guests' knowledge about sharks.

  • Shark Discovery Trail – 10:00 am to 9:00 pm
  • Shark Education Stations – 10:00 am to 9:00 pm
  • Shark-themed Face Painting – 11:00 am and 5:00 pm
  • Arts and Crafts – 11:00 am and 5:00 pm
  • Shark and Ray Nursery Feed and Expert Talk – 2:00 pm
  • JAWESOME Shark Bingo – 3:00 pm
  • Shark-Themed Aquatheatre Show – 3:45 pm
  • Shark Trivia – 5:00 pm

Visitors can also say hello to the friendly shark mascot, who will be floating around The Lost Chambers Aquarium daily at 10:00 am, 1:30 pm, and 6:00 pm.

SHARK-THEMED PROGRAMMES

Aside from the complimentary Summer of Sharks activities, there are various programs that guests can book to get up close with the UAE's native shark species. Beginner divers can experience Dive Discovery and follow a shark-themed trail underwater. Those who prefer swimming on the surface can reserve Shark Snorkel, wear a fun foam shark fin, and marvel at the host of marine life below. Other available programs to book include Dive Explorer, Predator Dive, Aquatrek Xtreme, Shark Safari, Ultimate Snorkel, Shark Tales Tour, and Shark Specialist.

 To learn more about “Summer of Sharks”, purchase tickets for The Lost Chambers Aquarium or book one of the shark-themed programmes, visit https://www.aquaventureworld.com/tickets/whats-on/summer-of-sharks

SHARKS OF THE UAE

It's no surprise that many different types of sharks call the UAE home, at least for a few months of the year, as the UAE and its neighboring countries are blessed with a rich and vibrant level of biodiversity. And as with any healthy ecosystem, sharks are there to maintain it. Here are a few little-known facts about the sharks who share the coastline with Dubai residents:

  1. Most sharks primarily inhabit coastal areas but rarely venture inland. Large whale sharks are sighted yearly along the beaches and marinas of Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
  2. The Blacktip Reef Shark is one of the most common shark species in the Gulf. These sharks are typically small, growing to a maximum length of 1.6 meters, and have a slim and streamlined body shape. They are known for their calm and docile nature, posing very little threat to people and certainly not to be feared.
  3. Don't worry too much about sharks! They are often less dangerous than they are portrayed in movies like Steven Spielberg's 1975 classic 'Jaws'. When sharks sense humans nearby, their instinct is usually to swim away because the average person is bigger than most sharks.
  4. Sadly, about 75 million sharks are killed every year, either through targeted fisheries or as bycatch, with the main driver being their fins which are used for shark fin soup. Sharks play a crucial role in maintaining the health of the oceans and must be protected. The presence of reef-associated sharks in the UAE's ecosystem is a promising sign of its health.
  5. To help protect sharks in the wild, people can support organizations that work to protect this fascinating marine animal and choose to buy responsibly sourced seafood, while avoiding purchasing shark products.

To learn more about Atlantis Atlas Project and get involved with its upcoming initiatives, please visit: www.atlantis.com/atlasproject.